Appeals Process for Real Property Assessments
The exact details of this process are defined here in the KRS –
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/chapter.aspx?id=37637
Section 172 of the Constitution of Kentucky requires that all property be assessed for taxation at 100% of its fair cash value. The assessment date is January 1 of each year. Fair cash value is defined as the price a property would bring with a voluntary sale and a willing buyer and seller.
When a value of real property changes from the previous year’s assessment, the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) is required to send the property owner a notice of change (KRS 132.450(4)). When property owners disagree with the new assessed value, the first step in the appeals process is to schedule a conference with the PVA or a Deputy.
A property owner must schedule a conference prior to the end of the tax roll inspection period (KRS 133.045(1)). This affords the property owners the opportunity to review all assessments for the current year. The tax roll inspection period is normally scheduled to begin the first Monday in May and continue for 6 days per week for the next two weeks and ends the third Monday in May. Sometimes this schedule may be adjusted if reassessment work in a particular county requires extra time. The inspection period in McCracken County is published in the Paducah Sun (KRS 133.045(1)).
The reassessment notices are mailed out prior to the beginning of the inspection period, annually. If the property owner wishes to discuss the assessment he or she can schedule a conference (KRS 133.045(2)(d)) with the PVA to discuss the assessment.
At the conference, the PVA, or a designated Deputy, will explain how the new assessment was calculated. All information used in the reassessment should be presented to the property owner. Likewise, the property owner must be prepared to show evidence to support their opinion of the value of their property.
Examples are:
- Sales of comparable properties.
- Income and expense statements for the past three years.
- Recent appraisals of the property.
- Original construction cost of additions and improvements.
- Insurance policy replacement cost
It is desirable that the conference between the property owner and PVA be in person but sometimes that is not feasible. In a case like this a conference can be permitted by telephone or online.
Usually, disagreements are resolved at these conferences after explaining the assessment process to the property owner. Often the property owner will accept the assessment or the PVA will lower the assessment after reviewing documentation provided by the property owner. When a conference does not end in agreement, the property owner can file and appeal to the County Board of Assessment Appeals with the County Clerk’s office.
Appealing to the County Board of Assessment Appeals
All real property assessment appeals are heard by a three-member panel known as the Local Board of Assessment Appeals (KRS 133.030). The Board is comprised of three local residents who are knowledgeable about real estate values in McCracken County.
The hearings at the local level are informal. Property owners do not have to hire an attorney or professional representative; however, they can have representation if they desire to do so. Any compensated representative of a property owner must be an attorney, a certified real estate appraiser, a Kentucky licensed real estate broker, an employee of the taxpayer, or any other individual possessing a professional appraisal designation recognized by the Revenue Cabinet.
Also, the representative must present written authorization from the property owner which states the professional capacity of the representative and it must also state any personal interests the representative may have in the outcome of the appeal, including any contingency fee arrangements. If the representative is an attorney, any contingency fee DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DISCLOSED.
At the hearing, the PVA will present information in support of the assessment and the property owner must present factual evidence to support his or her claim of value.
A property owner can have a conference with the PVA without providing any documentation but an appeal will be denied if the taxpayer has been asked to present information and fails to do so.
The board typically announces their decision shortly after a brief discussion. The property owner will also be notified by mail of the board’s decision. If the property owner is dissatisfied with the local board’s ruling, an appeal can then be filed at the State level with the Kentucky Board of Tax Appeals (KBTA).